The man accused of abducting a 6-year-old Mohlakeng girl from her home, taking her to a local veld where he allegedly severely assaulted her and raped her numerous times before leaving her for dead appeared in a packed to capacity Randfontein Magistrates’ Court on 19 November.
More than 60 outraged Mohlakeng residents attended the court case in support of the little girl and her family.
The girl was abducted from her home on 8 November and was later discovered badly beaten and raped by the girl’s grandmother.
She was rushed to hospital where she was found to have sustained serious vaginal and other injuries.
The girl was unable to speak at first but managed to utter the suspect’s name when her mother visited her the following day, which subsequently led to the man’s arrest.
During court proceedings, the accused pleaded with the Magistrate to order the outraged community members out of the court room.
“I don’t want these people in court. They are corrupting my mind,” he told the Magistrate.
He also asked that his bail application be abandoned owing to fears for his safety.
The plea was granted.
The Herald spoke to the mother of the child, who said that she was shocked by the entire incident.
“This is a person that we all knew. He was a family friend,” says the woman who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl.
“I never thought that he could do something like this.”
Meanwhile, the girl has been released from hospital and is recovering at home.
